E-Financial
UBA Consolidates Pan African Leadership with Key Appointments
United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA), the Pan-African bank with operations in 19 African countries and New York, London and Paris, has launched Project Alpha – the Group’s next stage focus of strategic transformation.
UBA has for eight years executed a dedicated strategy of local, regional and global expansion, whose implementation has seen the Group transform from a national player to an institution of international prominence.
Project Alpha is three year route map of key transformation initiatives, designed to consolidate the Group’s strategic positioning and fully capture the opportunities from Africa’s economic renaissance and the Group’s unique platform.
Project Alpha is focused on leveraging all aspects of the Group’s footprint, product offerings and operational capability, allowing a commitment to customer service transformation, market share growth, the implementation of key e-banking initiatives across all segments, the growth of corporate and trade finance capabilities and significant investment in the human capital represented by the over twenty five thousand UBA work force.
A series of senior executive hires underlines the Group’s commitment to Project Alpha. Mr. Apollos Ikpobe has been appointed as deputy managing director, Domestic Bank and Ms. Obi Ibekwe as executive director Human Resources and Customer Service.
Both appointments have been approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Mr. Ikpobe, who was until recently an executive director at Zenith Bank, a position he held for 7 years, brings over 21 years of experience of the Nigerian banking sector.
Mr. Ikpobe will be responsible for driving UBA’s domestic business in Nigeria. His appointment complements existing deputy managing director, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, responsible for Resources and Treasury.
The new Executive Director Human Resources and Customer Service, Ms. Ibekwe had a distinguished career with Zenith Bank Plc, where she was responsible for Human Resource Management, Customer Services, as well as Credit Risk Management.
She has a background in consulting, banking and customer service, critical for leading the renewed service excellence culture at UBA. Her appointment to the board brings to five, the number of female Directors at the Group board of UBA.
Other key appointments also announced include Mr. Rasheed Adegoke, general manager in charge of Group Information Technology.
Mr Adegoke joins UBA from First Bank of Nigeria, where he was CIO, a role he has held over 13 years at different institutions in the Nigerian financial services sector.
He is a technology and process strategist and with hands-on expertise in the design and delivery of high-performance information technology and business process improvement solutions to address complex business problems.
A critical aspect of the Project Alpha initiative is the focus on UBA Africa, whose contribution currently at 20% of group performance and is planned to be 50% in by 2016. To drive this, the Group is reinforcing its senior African leadership.
Emmanuel Nnorom, Formerly Executive Director, Finance & Risk Management at UBA, has been appointed as the CEO for UBA Africa.
Other senior level appointments in UBA Africa include Mrs. Amie Sow, Managing Director, UBA Senegal; Mr. Demola Ogunfeyimi, Managing Director, UBA Tanzania; Mr. Mamadou Sanon, Managing Director, UBA Gabon; Mr. Martin Che, Managing Director, UBA Congo Brazzaville; Mr. Marcel Bitang, Managing Director, UBA DRC; Mr. Stanley Ugwueze, Managing Director, UBA Zambia; Mrs. Abiola Bawuah, Deputy Managing Director, UBA Ghana; Mr. Benedict Nklama, Executive Director, UBA Kenya; Mr. Wilbrod Owor, Executive Director, UBA Uganda and Mr. Chinedu Obeta, Executive Director, UBA Sierra Leone.
“UBA is able to recruit the cream of African banking talent and we are proud to be able to provide a dynamic platform for these Africans to contribute to our continent’s transformation” said, Mr. Phillips Oduoza, GMD/CEO, UBA.
Speaking further, he said: “Our people remain our greatest asset and we will continue to strategically retool and resource to achieve and surpass the goals of Project Alpha”.
More broadly, Project Alpha allows us both to build on the existing strengths of our franchise, but more importantly demonstrates that going forward we continue to reinvent ourselves, ensuring we capture and deliver the maximum of value for clients, shareholders and staff” he explained.
United Bank for Africa Plc is one of Africa’s leading financial institutions, offering banking services to more than 7 million customers across over 700 branches in 19 African countries. With presence in New York, London and Paris, UBA is connecting people and businesses across Africa through retail, commercial and corporate banking, innovative cross border payments and trade finance.
The sixteenth season of DiamondXtra, a savings and reward account where customers of Access Bank are rewarded with several prizes, have been unveiled in Lagos.
L – R : Doris Okpara, Product Manager, DiamondXtra; Ngozi Igboanugo, Regional sales Manager Festac 1&2 & mainland Access Bank; Bolarinwa Animashaun, Regional Sales Director Lagos 2 Access Bank ; Emeka Ezikeugo, Diamondxtra N200,000 Onsite winner; and Adaeze Ume, Head Consumer liabilities, Access Bank during the launch of Diamondxtra Season 16 held at Alaba International Market Lagos yesterday.
The Season 16th of the special interest yielding hybrid account which allows deposit of both cash and third-party cheques has been upgraded as customers will win prizes to the value of N200 million and three SUVs, amongs other mouthwatering prizes.
Speaking at the unveiling in Alaba International Market, Lagos, Mr Bolarinwa Animashaun, regional sales director, Lagos, said the new season will bring more goodies to the customers as the bank has taken their interest at heart.
“In the last fifteen years, we have been able to ensure customer loyalty, reward committed customers over time and show that we are a bank that is ready to empower people and partner with people.
“If I take it into specific figures, we have rewarded 26,696 customers and we’ve given a total sum of N6.5 billion over the period.
This Season16is interesting, because, we have seen a lot of opportunities to expand into digital opportunities and this time around, we will be rewarding 15,786 customers, and 10,000 of them will be digitally rewarded.
“This is almost half of what we have done over the last 15 years. So that is what is making it special. We have takenit into the possibilities of how technology can expand our business and reward customers”.
The draws for the new season are going to be the same like the previous ones as it will be held in different regions.
“So, we start from the monthly draws, quarterly draws and the annual draws. What makes it extremely interesting this year is that we will be rewarding with up to N200 million in prizes and we have added some very interesting gifts. We will be given out three SUVs as part of the N200 million price for this year”, Animashaun added.
At the unveiling, Access Bank conducted onsite draws where 48 customers who have DiamondXtra accounts and were present at the unveiling won cash prizes ranging from N20,000 to N200,000.
Breakdown shows 40 customers won N20,000 each, five customers won N50,000, two customers won N100,000, while one customer went home with N200,000.
Among winners of the N20,000 prize was Mr Victor Edobor, who said he opened the DiamondXtra accounts 24-hours before the draws.
One of the two winners of the N100,000 prize, Mrs. Maureen Nneka Oforka, said she was surprised to have won at the well-attended event as that was her first time winning any prize.
She said, “I have never won any prize in my life. This is my first. I came here reluctantly and thank God, I am here and I am a winner of N100,000 which has already been paid into my account.
The grand prize winner of N200,000, Mr. Emeka Ezikeugo, a trader in Alaba, said. “I will forever be grateful to Access Bank for the prize as I was not expecting it. I thank the bank for showing leadership among its peers”.
To be part of the winning train and qualify for the DiamondXtra season 16 which is open to both new and existing customers, new customers are required to open a DiamondXtra savings account with just N5,000 by dialling *901*5# or walking into one of our branches to open the account.
However, the more multiples of N5,000 both new and old customers save, the higher their chances of winning at the monthly, quarterly and annual draws.
DiamondXtra is an interest yielding hybrid account which allows deposit of both cash and third party cheques. Hybrid means a combination of both savings and current account features. The DiamondXtra reward scheme has given away over N6.5 billion in cash and household items to over 15,000 loyal customers over the last 15years. Please click HERE to learn more.
Recognising the underrepresentation of women in the technology sector, Lafarge Africa Plc, has launched the Girls in Tech Program, a pioneering initiative aimed at empowering young women in technology.
Meticulously crafted to bridge the gender gap in tech and empower 10 young females between the ages of 18-25 years from Lafarge Africa Host communities in Cross River State, the program is poised to make a significant impact in the region.
The Girls in Tech Program seeks to harness the unique talents of these young women and introduce them to the dynamic world of technology. By providing them with essential skills and opportunities, the initiative aspires to equip them to become self-reliant as well as problem solvers in society.
In collaboration with Aptech and Arena Multimedia,globally recognized leaders in technology incubation and opportunity, as well as The Bridge Leadership Foundation, the boot camp promises to be a transformative experience for the participating girls, who are eager to make their mark in the tech industry.
Speaking during the onboarding to flag-off in Calabar recently, the Plant Manager, Lafarge Africa Plc, Sotirios Valsamakis, who was represented by the Human Resources Business Partner, Lafarge Africa Plc; Barong Ita, revealed that the program was in line with the company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
She also added that the initiative is designed to ignite a spark of inspiration, hope, and possibilities in the heart of the selected girls across the host communities.
“As an organization, people are an integral part of our sustainability drive, and we are invested in building lasting progress by empowering members of our host communities. We also recognize the need for greater and greener diversity and inclusivity within the tech sector.”
Today’s event is not just about launching a program. It is about igniting a spark of inspiration, hope, and possibilities in the hearts of these young women. It is about challenging stereotypes.”
Also speaking at the event, the Cross Rivers State Commissioner for Science, Innovation & Technology, Justin Beshel represented by Edwin Adie, Technical Senior Advisor, Cross Rivers State Ministry of Science & Technology commended Lafarge Africa for the initiative adding that it is in line with the State government’s plan towards science, technology and innovation development.
As the country faces economic challenges, the need for adaptive strategies in the fintech industry becomes paramount. In line with this, leading Fintech startup, Hydrogen Payment Services Limited (‘Hydrogen’), has teamed up with Co-creation Hub (‘CcHub’) to host an insightful event themed, ‘Adapting Fintech Business Models to Economic Climes’.
The event, set to take place on Thursday, April 18, 2024, from 12:00 WAT at the CcHub office in Sabo, Lagos, will delve deep into the intricacies of Nigeria’s economic challenges and how these influence the fintech ecosystem.
Participants will gain actionable insights on how to adapt fintech business models to volatile economic conditions by prioritising flexibility, agility, and customer-centricity.
This collaboration underscores the shared commitment of both entities to empower aspiring founders venturing into the Fintech space amidst economic uncertainties.
By leveraging their respective expertise and resources, Hydrogen and CcHub aim to equip emerging entrepreneurs with the knowledge, tools, and support needed to thrive in today’s dynamic economic conditions.
Emeka Awagu, Chief Technology Officer at Hydrogen, commented on the strategic partnership with CcHUB: “Our alliance with CcHUB amplifies our shared commitment to pioneering transformative solutions in Nigeria’s fintech sector.
“By leveraging Hydrogen’s technological expertise alongside CcHUB’s innovative approach, we are primed to set a new standard for fintech excellence and drive impactful change across the industry.”
The event will feature a distinguished panel of industry experts and thought leaders, including, Ina Alogwu, Group Director, Digital Transformation, ARM HoldCo; Emeka Awagu, Chief Technology Officer, Hydrogen, and Miracle Ezechi, Digital Marketing Manager, Hydrogen.
The panel discussion will be moderated to encourage an engaging and insightful conversation on the strategies and innovations required to thrive in Nigeria’s Fintech landscape amidst economic challenges.
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